Newman wants working hours for taxi operators capped

Egerton Newman is calling for taxi operators to have a formal set of working hours, expressing concern that some of them are running themselves into the ground by working up to 16 hours per day.

Newman, who is the president of the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODSS), made the call while addressing a TODSS Health and Wellness Forum in St Andrew last Thursday.

He expressed concern that the sedentary job was resulting in many transport operators not getting enough exercise or even using the restrooms as often as they should, adding that these and other matters could have serious health implications. Lack of rest can also affect motorists’ attentiveness and reaction time to hazards.

“We need your help,” Newman said, addressing Transport Minister Audley Shaw. “Our taxi men and women are sitting in one position for up to 16 hours per day. That must stop! It only can stop, Minister, with a programme that will allow our taxi men and women to work not more than 10 hours per day.”

He said that it was for such reasons that the event was being held with the goal of assessing, screening and conducting health checks for transport operators.

For his part, Shaw said it is believed that roughly 20 per cent of crashes are caused by medical issues with drivers who have epilepsy, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mental illness, who average twice as many crashes as those without these illnesses.

“Taking a look at the statistics for road fatalities, already, 110 persons have been killed since the start of the year. For the month of March, 27 persons have been killed in 27 fatal collisions. While fatalities have decreased by 31 per cent and fatal crashes have decreased by 16 per cent when compared to a similar period [in 2022], this is still a critical area of concern,” Shaw said.

He added that a further breakdown of the statistics reveal that 96 per cent of road fatalities were males and that the main cause of fatal crashes was proceeding at excessive speed with no regard to road conditions.

“I am pleased that more emphasis is being placed on holistic well-being and not only on financial well-being. We are seeing more partnerships being formed with both private and public sectors to advance Jamaica’s transportation network, and as minister of transport and mining, this is very heartening ... ,” he said.

Shaw also stressed the need to work on transforming the culture of the taxi operators and said these changes should not only be expected on the part of the Government, but also the operators being responsible themselves.

“It’s not just about knowing and obeying the road code, but also about taking care of yourselves so when you get behind the wheel, you’re not at risk of falling ill and the related human error. As we go through the ageing process, our bodies require us to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” Shaw said.